By the time I got home and put the mare up, it was after midnight. It rained on the ride back in and the air was still soggy. The clothes Margaret had hung out were flapping around like ghosts in the dark yard. I wondered if Miss Lil had lent their owner some trousers or if he’d gone home in his long johns. I thought about going down to the Ocean House to see the marshal—he’d likely be playing cards at that hour—but I decided not to. I was tired to my bones and I wasn’t up for more talking. The house was dark, so I went into the back room and flopped on my cot, hoping to get a couple hours sleep.
I woke up when the mare grumbled out back. I don’t know what time it was, but the sky wasn’t light. I thought at first I’d forgot to towel her down, but I remembered doing it. I got up and went t
